New 2020 Land Rover Defender previewed in Invictus Games livery

The new Land Rover Defender has been shown off at a 2020 Invictus Games preview event ahead of its official reveal at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show. The lightly camouflaged Defender got Prince Harry’s approval, who is the founder of the Games, a sporting competition for ex-servicemen and women.

It’s our closest look at the new Defender yet and, despite an Invictus Games wrap, some of the car’s details can still be made out. Ahead of the completely flat bonnet is a very square, chunky front end, with square headlight bezels and wide air intakes. The air intakes look quite high, which should allow the Defender to wade through water around a metre deep. At the back, the spare wheel and small tail-lights are a clear nod to the original Defender.

The 4x4 will feature in the Invictus Games, and competitors will be among the first people to drive a production version.

The new Land Rover Defender is going through the final stages of testing ahead of its full reveal. Land Rover is also setting a Defender prototype various assignments in Kenya with official partner the Tusk Trust wildlife conservation charity, including towing, wading and the transportation of heavy cargo across the 14,000-hectare Borana Conservancy reserve.

The next-generation Defender has now racked up nearly 750,000 test miles in a variety of environments, including 50-degree deserts, the sub-zero Arctic and high-altitude Rocky Mountains in Colorado.

The testing regime hasn't entirely focused on rugged terrain, as we've already seen a prototype lapping the famous Nurburgring racetrack in Germany. Jaguar Land Rover has an engineering base close to the Nurburgring race track, so it was a natural place to assess the car's dynamics.

There has been intense speculation on how the next-generation Land Rover Defender will look and we now have a fairly sizeable set of images to give the clearest overall impression we've had so far. While various wraps and disguises have been used to mislead the eye and square-off certain edges, what can be seen is a silhouette that stays faithful to the proportions of the original model.

New 2020 Land Rover Defender design

Previously, the Land Rover Defender was spotted undergoing cold-weather testing under a heavier disguise. Now, though, we can see more of what to expect when the new car arrives.

Seen here with five doors – as per the original 110 model – the new Land Rover Defender looks to be similar in size to the Land Rover Discovery albeit with a more traditional two-box shape. The car’s disguise completely covers its bonnet, which has been flattened off and left with a sharp leading edge, while large padded sections around the rear windows hide the precise details.

An upright windscreen, side-opening rear door, flared wheelarches and tall ride height all hark back to the original Defender, while the car’s short overhangs and tucked-away exhaust look like off-road-friendly features. Square headlights can also be seen, rather than the original car’s round items. It’s likely that the Defender will carry a look that fits in with the rest of the range, rather than being an out-and-out retro design.

The long-running original Defender is regarded as a design icon, and creating a worthy successor is no easy task. Far more emphasis is placed on brand identity today than was the case when the original car was in production, and the next Defender will be charged with being recognisably a product of Jaguar Land Rover, while maintaining its individual appeal.

New Land Rover Defender interior

Earlier this year, an image leaked online allegedly showing the interior of the new Defender. It has since been deleted, but did show what is claimed to be the full dashboard design, including a large infotainment screen, a digital dial cluster and a rugged looking multi-function steering wheel.

The picture also suggested that the Defender could potentially come with a row of three front seats, and a set of pedals marked with “GO” for the accelerator and “STOP” for the brake pedal.

New Land Rover Defender technology

However, Land Rover has assured Defender fans that its successor's off-road ability will make it worthy of the name. JLR executive Dr Ralf Speth told Carbuyer that the design and engineering of the new model is all but finalised, and promised that the new model will be “even more capable” than the previous Defender when the terrain gets challenging.

Clearly confident as to the new Defender's abilities, he went on to reveal: “I have driven test mules already… and also tried the car against competitors, in on and off-road environments. It’s sensational.” Dr Speth remained coy as to when it would arrive in showrooms, though, saying only: “It is coming. We are working an authentic successor of the predecessor.”

Precise mechanical details have yet to be confirmed, but the next Defender is likely to share more parts with other Land Rover models than the original car did. Aluminium construction is expected, possibly using a rumoured MLA (Modular Longitudinal Architecture) platform that could also serve as the basis for other Jaguar Land Rover vehicles.

This would also make it simple to introduce a wide range of Defender variants. Although the Defender has always been famed for its simple, rugged engineering that can shrug off harsh terrain, Jaguar Land Rover certainly won't overlook the booming market for luxury SUVs. JLR design boss Gerry McGovern said: “The Defender is all about durability – that indestructible, durable vehicle which is what a family of Defenders would be.” However, he made strong hints that high-performance SVR versions could be offered.

Development versions of the 2020 Land Rover Defender have been powered by a 2.0-litre diesel engine, according to their registration information, while other prototypes have been petrol powered. Land Rover has confirmed that all of its production models from 2020 will be electrified, leading us to believe that each powertrain at launch will feature a 48-volt mild-hybrid system helping to reduce CO2 emissions and increase fuel economy. Jaguar Land Rover has stated previously that the Defender will have a "balanced engine portfolio", hinting that several engine options will be available.

With Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division having already impressed with models like the 567bhp Range Rover Sport SVR, it could turn its attention to the next Defender and produce a real rival to the new Mercedes-AMG G63 SUV. Such a car would likely prove popular in the growing Russian and Chinese markets, as would a luxurious version along the lines of the Range Rover SVAutobiography.

New Land Rover Defender: price and release date

The new Land Rover Defender will make its full debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, with order books set to open by the end of the year for delivery in early 2020.